Tool for repairing electrical connections



July 3, 1962 B. B. ISENHOUR TOOL FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS Filed Nov. 25, 1959 Barf/rel B. lsenhour INVENTOR.

3,041,649 TOQL FOR REPAHKING EIECTRECAL CONNECTIGNS Burthel B. Isenhour, 17 Dryden Drive,

San Antonio, Tex. Filed Nov. 25, 1959, Ser. No. 855,338 3 Claims. (Cl. 15-236) This invention relates to portable tools and more particularly to a special purpose tool for adjustment and repair of electrical connections.

An object of the invention is to provide a handy tool capable of numerous functions in connection with adjustment, maintenance and repair of electrical contacts and connectors.

Briefly, a tool in accordance with the invention is capable of very materially facilitating the task of gauging and thereby correct the spacing of the contacts of sockets or analogous devices. The tool may be made with knurled surfaces which will also function to clean the contacts and free them from fungus collections or other foreign matter.

The tool is preferably made of a non-conductive elongate handle having a hollow member, for instance, a tube which also functions as a gauge which may be inserted between the contacts and their supporting structure and moved to pry the contacts into the desired position. A tube socket is a typical example of a connector which is very difiicult to adjust by ordinary means, but which is very easily adjusted by the invention.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a tool constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of the tool showing it being used with a conventional tube socket.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the opposite end of the tool from that shown in FIGURE 2 and showing it in use.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a view showing the knurled surfaces of the tool. I

In the accompanying drawings there is an illustration of a conventional tube socket 10 having contacts 12 and 14- in each tube pin hole. Tube socket It) has been selected as an illustration for environmental use of, tool 16, although it is to be clearly understood that the tool may be used in connection with other types of tube sockets and other equipment having electrical contacts. Suflice it to indicate that the tool 16, exemplifying the invention, may be used in connection with any type of device or equipment containing electrical contacts capable of being adjusted or serviced by tool 16.

The tool is made of a non-conductive slender elongate handle 18, for example, the handle may be made of nonconductive plastic, hard rubber or the like. It is preferred that the handle be cylindrical in order to facilitate holding it, although other cross-sectional shapes may be adopted. There are two gauges 20 and 22 protruding from the ends of handle 18, the gauges having longitudinal axes which are on the longitudinal axis of handle 18. Gauge 20 is in the form of a cylindrical rod with an end embedded and fixed in handle 18. Gauge 22 is Bfidlfii Patented July 3, 1962 2 also cylindrical but it is hollow having an elongate internal acvity 24. Also, the outer extremity of gauge 22 is beveled as at 26, the bevel angle being approximately 30 degrees to facilitate insertion, for instance, into one of the socket holes (FIGURE 2).

Both or either of the gauges 2t and 22 may have knurled surfaces 21 and 23 as seen in FIGURE 6.

and clean the contacts on the inside.

When knurled surfaces are provided, they will function to clean the contacts, for instance, contacts 12 and 14 to assure electrical continuity when the contacts are functioning as such. Following the tube socket example, the tube pins fit between contacts 12 and 14. To as sure electrical continuity the contacts 12 and 14 must be clean, and use of the tool 16 will assure a clean condition of the contacts.

Considerable difliculty stems from light contact pressure or lack of contact between tube pins and socket contacts, interlock cords and line supply and in round pin multiple connection blocks used in telephone circuits which may cause heating at the poor connections. The foregoing is but a few of the possible difliculties that occur because of poor engagement between contacts and plugs, pins, etc. It is also evident that the cleaning of the contacts sometimes to lack of visibility, working space and other circumstances. Tool 16 in accordance with the invention materially facilitates correcting the difficulty.

In using the tool, the gauge 20 is inserted between the contacts to gauge the contact spacing by virtue of the contact pressure applied thereto which may be sensed by the user reciprocating the tool against a frictional resistance proportional to such contact pressure. If the contacts are too loose it will of course be readily ascertained by freedom of the gauge 20 within the socket. If the contact spacing is too tight resistance to movement of the gauge 20 will be felt. When too tight, the insertion and reciprocation of the gauge 20 will spread The gauge 22 is also used to gauge the contact spacing from the outside and bend the contacts inwardly for corrective displacement. Cavity 24 of the wider gauge 22 accordingly provided with the bevel 26 is therefore used to accept the end of contacts 12 and 14 to gauge and then pry the contacts together and upon reciprocation clean the contacts on the outside. Accordingly, both gauges 20 and 22 serve the purpose of cleaning the contacts and also determining whether the contacts are loose or tight in the socket. The maintenance, repair and adjustment of other equip- The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A tool for cleaning sockets, said tool comprising a slender elongated handle of insulating material, and a hollow tubular member projecting longitudinally from one end of said handle, said tubular member having an outside diameter of a size to fit between adjacent contacts of a socket and an inside diameter to receive one of the contacts therewithin.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said tubular member is provided with a knurled outer surface.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said tubular member is provided with a bevelled outer end.

(References on following page) presents a difficult problem due and setting contacts of electric- 'Reference s Cited in the file of this fiaterlt UNITED STATES PATENTS Farrington Apr. 211,. 1931 Miles et a1 June 20, 1944 SullinS July 24, 1951 Brooks l, July 311, 1951 Curtin Mar. 12, 1957 Paulson -1 Nov. 12, 1958 Andric Mar. 10, 1959 

